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Where are you going for your next gaming computer or laptop?

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Blue_State

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Where do you go to buy your next gaming computer or laptop? I have been making mine from scratch, but I think it is time that I finally get lazy and just buy an alienware.
 
I will go to the same place I always do. Pricewatch.com, and then buy the parts I need to upgrade my computer myself. This is usually just a barebones CPU/MB combo, sometimes necessitating new ram if what i have is incompatible with the new MB. I then call mom and let her know that I am coming over to upgrade her computer with the parts I just replaced.

I will also use pricewatch to shop for a new GPU, but so far I have done this as a stand alone purchase seperate from any of my CPU/MB upgrades
 
When upgrades are no longer an option I will go to Best Buy and get a Dell(those usually have a OS DVD/CD instead of an emergency partition).
 
Yeah. Pricewatch is good. I have pieced together a few computers from there. Not sure if I want to build my next one or just buy it outright.
 
Always a conflict here... get a laptop or upgrade your existing system.

And it always comes down to price vs convenience.

Like it or not the only plus for a laptop is mobility. Everything else is a negative.

Price.. laptops are more expensive than upgrading your current system
Performance.. very few laptops can live up to the performance of a stationary machine. Laptop graphics cards are crap in comparison to a stationary machine.
Repair cost... if something goes boom in your laptop.. damn it can get expensive. If it happens in your stationary machine.. not so much and often you can do the replacing yourself.

My advice is always.. buy a stationary machine and use the leftover money to buy a netbook if need non work/gaming mobility.. aka emails/office on the go.
 
I got my rig from www.centaruscomputers.com It's been a beast for me. My wife got hers there and last this spring we'll buy a third. Are they uber fancy, no. Do they do good work? YES. I was very impressed with both PC's we bouth. AMD6x core, Nvidia Vid Cards, 4 gigs of ram, well put together, well wired... I was quite happy with them.
 
I like to support small local businesses. For that reason I buy my parts locally at a store called CompuXParts. As an added plus, I pay prices that are competitive with Newegg but I don't pay for shipping or have to wait. I walk in and walk out with what I want. They have a VERY good selection and when I'm not decided on what to buy, their expertise sends me in the right direction.

For example, I recently bought an Asus 27" monitor for $319.00.

btw, I won't ever pay someone else to build my computer for me.
 
Blue_State said:
Where do you go to buy your next gaming computer or laptop? I have been making mine from scratch, but I think it is time that I finally get lazy and just buy an alienware.
Click to expand...

Always more worth it to build it yourself. Alienware is ridiculously overpriced. It's really not that hard to build from scratch, i'm sure you already know there's tons of guides and tutorials on the internet.
 
Buying alienware is a terrible idea. You are paying a huge markup to get a stupid looking case and some gaudy LED lights.

Building a computer is easy, especially if you've done it before.

For the processor, get the i5-2500k. You wont be sorry. The priceerformance on that thing is incredible. AMD has always held that title in the past and all my previous computers have been AMD, but in this latest generation Intel has really just crushed them.
 
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Well, first I'll go to Toms Hardware and pick out the pieces, then I'll go to newegg to buy them, then I'll go to my workbench to put them together.
 


SPELLIN!

Custom gaming computers with extreme performance and overclock. Laptops and custom gaming PC from $599 with free shipping and 3 year warranty.
 
Tom's hardware is a great site for reviews. I've always built my own computers and I can build a rig as good as Alienware can build for half the cost. I buy almost exclusively from Newegg, but I do compare prices on Pricewatch.com.
 
I always build mine from scratch, use newegg, exclusively, and always save a lot of money. Every desktop I've owned, except my old 8088, I built myself.
 
Hugh_Akston said:
Tom's hardware is a great site for reviews. I've always built my own computers and I can build a rig as good as Alienware can build for half the cost. I buy almost exclusively from Newegg, but I do compare prices on Pricewatch.com.
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I have always done the same, and I have noticed as of the last couple of years that newegg comes out as the best deal through pricewatch 95% of the time, so for the last 2 upgrades it has been exclusively newegg. They are the undisputed kings of the hill and through the sheer volume of business they do it makes it hard for others to compete with them on price. I had an issue with RAM compatibility on my last build, my MB just did not like the brand that I opted for for some reason, I was very impressed with the relatively quick and hassle free return and replacement through newegg.
 
Blue_State said:
Where do you go to buy your next gaming computer or laptop? I have been making mine from scratch, but I think it is time that I finally get lazy and just buy an alienware.
Click to expand...

I tend to get my stuff from newegg or amazon. I tend to look all over the internet for the best deal, but its usually those two places where I find it.
 
Kinda suprised, no mention of TigerDirect or Frye's. Used NewEgg myself on occasion and the other two more often. Frye's is huge in Cali land. My last, a 6core that runs anything was a steal at $700. I doubt Ill be in the market for another year at least.
 
Going to go negative, almost anything you buy at BestBuy under $800 probably has a junk power supply at about 350 watts, which wont run most graphics cards available today. I had a very hard time getting around both paying more for a comparable system and needing to spend for 2 components if I ever wanted to upgrade the graphics if/when I buy a blue ray for it to stream to the TV (blue ray players are getting rediculous cheap for computer bays; if you havent checked it out, you should.)

Alienware is...how do I put this....CRAP since Dell took them over. You do not take a company that is legendary for cost cutting and give them a premier top end computer manufacturer as a subsidiary. The business philosophies just conflict with each other and it shows with the price points you get from alien comapred with just a few years ago when they became THE name for top of the line. They just aren't anymore. I bet you could buy components, pay someone local to put it together for 250$ AND get OS and security software and still save around $500 over Alienware now. Its disappointing for me to type this, I was a real fan of AW at one point, not anymore.
 
Asus makes good, cheap laptops. I have a asus g53 (forgot). Has a gtx 460m :-D
 
Blue_State said:
Where do you go to buy your next gaming computer or laptop? I have been making mine from scratch, but I think it is time that I finally get lazy and just buy an alienware.
Click to expand...
TO answer your question: any of the major retailers are fine: for example, Dell, newegg, HP. Price shop and compare the specs using TomsHardware.com. The problem though is they rarely tell you any details about the components they give you such as the memory, power supply, motherboard, case, etc.

I buy all the components and put PCs together myself. Putting one together yourself can save you $1000+ for a high end rig. Less so for more midline and low end. Putting one together yourself usually ensures that you have higher end parts and generally better performance than alienware or other places can sell. The downside is that you don't get as much support, must troubleshoot your own problems, RMA, put it together, etc.

I should probably put together a how-to doc for anyone feeling motivated to try themselves.

I highly recommend tom's hardware: Tom's Hardware: Hardware News, Tests and Reviews

Use their CPU charts and graphics card charts to find the price/performance you need.
Performance Charts Graphics Cards - Benchmark
Performance Charts Processors - Benchmark

I generally buy parts from Newegg.com and amazon.com. And don't get suckered in by mail-in-rebates.
 
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I got my current one at CyberPower PC. - Custom Built Gaming PC and Gaming Laptops and I'm pretty happy with it. Much better than alienware IMO. Alienware stuff is kind of meh. A few months behind, not as expandable, not as easy to swap out parts. Kind of overpriced.

For my next one I think I'll build my own from scratch. I ended up adding liquid cooling for the graphics cards and CPU in this one, but pretty much any box you can buy pre-built doesn't have room to accommodate enough liquid cooling radiators for modern graphics cards, so I think I'll need to go with a custom PC next time. It's annoying to have an external radiator tagging along behind the computer.
 
Blue_State said:
Where do you go to buy your next gaming computer or laptop? I have been making mine from scratch, but I think it is time that I finally get lazy and just buy an alienware.
Click to expand...

Build your own, Newegg.com and CDW. so much cheaper.

If you insist on buying one go to cyperpowerpc.com. Customize it almost as you wish. More like Alienware used to be.

If you just want to give money away:

Dell: high failure rates on cheap models, most not meant for gaming (I know cause most PC's I fix are Dells)

Dell/Alienware: Compared to how Alienware was over a decade ago your really getting ripped off. You could build to almost exact gaming PC's than you would buy one with the same specs on Alienware now.

HP: Or as I refer to them as "High Price." Mostly marketed to older people and kids in college. (Incredibly easy to fix) Have to spend at least $1000 just to get a mediocre Gaming PC, low failure rates overall.

Sony/VAIO: Very expensive, even though they have exactly the same boards as cheaper brands. Extremely high failure rates, especially among laptops. Buy this brand for the name not for functionality.

Gateway/eMachine: Cheap machines, last forever, most models are not meant for any type of gaming.

Acer: Somewhat pricey, motherboards tend to die, LCD's are a great value, mediocre performance.

That's my 2 cents, get whatever!
 
I didn't feel like quoting your hole tree of thoughts up there, although helpful. I really loved my alienware before dell bought them out. It was such a great machine, the inside was open, and it always ran speedy, even in my youthful ignorance. I think it was a sad thing that Dell bought them out, or rather some rich CEO making millions sold out. What a shameful world we live in where companies sell out just so one person can make buckets of money. Oh wait, that is capitalism at its finest...

Also, I will add my CyberpowerPC, while not as perfect, is REALLY well designed for the non-do-it-yourselfers.

Let me ask you this, was the CEO of Alienware the reason they were great? Nope...
 
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